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The NHL didn't waste any time building its case against the NHL Players' Association.

In a class action complaint filed at a New York court Friday, the league included plenty of evidence to try and establish that the union had always intended to decertify or file a disclaimer of interest.

There were 36 players named in the statement of claim by the league -- all members of the NHLPA's executive committee and even some draft picks -- as the league went to great lengths to prove its case.

Not only were NHLPA representatives of all seven Canadian teams named in the filing, the league also included quotes from several players talking about the possibility of going the decertification route over the last couple of months.

Included in the evidence was tweets from San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture, Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Matt Carle and Florida Panthers forward Scottie Upshall supporting NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr's leadership to show a disclaimer doesn't have any weight.

"The NHL appears to be arguing that players should be stopped from even considering their right to decide whether or not to be represented by a union. We believe that (the NHL's) position is completely without merit," said the NHLPA in a statement released late Friday.

NHL gathers quotes, tweets as evidence against NHLPA

The NHL didn't waste any time building its case against the NHL Players' Association.

In a class action complaint filed at a New York court Friday, the league included plenty of evidence to try and establish that the union had always intended to decertify or file a disclaimer of interest.

There were 36 players named in the statement of claim by the league -- all members of the NHLPA's executive committee and even some draft picks -- as the league went to great lengths to prove its case.